US 'strongly' condemns use of force against Myanmar protesters

The United States on Tuesday denounced the use of force against anti-coup protesters in Myanmar, renewing a call for their freedom of expression.

"We strongly condemn violence against demonstrators," State Department spokesman Ned Price told reporters.

"All individuals in Burma have rights to freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, including for the purposes of peaceful protest," he said.

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"We repeat our calls for the military to relinquish power, restore democratically elected government, release those detained and lift all telecommunication restrictions and to refrain from violence," he said.

Witnesses said police fired rubber bullets and fired a water cannon at protesters in the remote capital Naypyidaw.

The junta has also imposed restrictions on freedom of assembly and attempted an internet blackout a week after arresting civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi.

Her party, the National League for Democracy, said that the military raided and destroyed its office late Tuesday.